Without sounding too neurotic, I seriously think in the near future gun ownership will be a thing of the past. Lets put it this way, it will become an excessively expensive hobby, at least for alot of us. After the Supreme Court ruling concerning Healthcare,this current administration will slowly pick away at our Constitutional amendments. I feel that a hugh tax will be applied on all future firearms and related products. There won't be dramatic changes, for instance they'll "progressively" chip away at our gun ownership. I seriously think within 5 years they'll be such a rush on guns with people trying to sell their guns off and which in turn will lower the value of them. Slowly we'll see the small gun shops fade away first, then it'll eat its way up the chain. If this administration gets another 4 years, which I think they will, we're all up the creek. It's sad the opposition candidate comes off alittle too timid with no fire in the belly. I'm trying to convince myself I'm being too much of a conspiratist, but to no avail. I really have a lousy feeling about things to come. Unfortunately I don't think guns will be the investment we previously thought. It's time to start shooting the safe queens.

Firearms, Ammunition, Booze, Gold Silver, Platinum all are good things to own.

Take a pill and you'll feel better.

__________________
NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

What pill would you suggest one take to make one feel better about the abuse of government power? Although I'm far more optimistic about the outcome of the next election, I think 38man has valid concerns and certainly doesn't deserve such a flippant response.

@38man...what information do you have that this might be a possibility that has not come from a blog of a blog of a blog of a blog?

In other words, for the past three years all of our various gun fora have talked incessently about the dreaded "Obama's gonna get our guns" - OGGOG. Yet in all the reading that I have done I have seen absolutely zero in the left or right press that suggests any REAL plans whatsoever.

When we listen to folks from the national organizations discuss OGGOG in an email or letter or editorial...it is usually with a recommendation to "join"...in other words a fundraiser. And Fear, Uncertainty and Dread are certainly things to get folks wound up about when it comes to fundraising.

So, before getting all wound up, look at what is real, not what is repeated again and again, all void of facts to back it up. It makes life much easier to live. Oh, and don't watch Prepper shows...they are one big advertisement for FUD. :-)

It'll be "for the children"

Oh jeez here we go...

I like the Blue pill.

Seriously, IMHO.... Gun owners should remain aware of the never-ending effort among gun-grabbing hoplophobes and other wrong-headed folks to make gun ownership more difficult. That said, I think it's good to recognize the many victories we've had. Gun restrictions are far less in many states than in the past, as well as recent victory at the SC and the current President signing pro gun legislation. Remain aware, give to the NRA, but don't run around like Chicken Little... it only serves to dilute serious pro-gun arguments.

You need to widen your subscription base. Either that or your assessment of what is "REAL" is flawed.

For generations the social engineers have tried to disarm us by frontal assault with varying degrees of success. But what we are faced with now is the most cynical, high handed and conniving tactic ever. OVERT Manufacture of stats to sway the opinion of an already blase` general populace. Witness "Fast-N-Furious".

Don't give the White House more than it's due. The real power in government resides with the Congress. Pay attention to statements of members of the house and senate to see where gun control is going. Let's stay vigilant but not paranoid.

The real power in government resides in corporate donations. Follow the money.

REAL to me are actual initiatives, planned and prepared for execution to remove guns from the legal owning public. I have not seen that.

And as for widening my subscription base...I am not sure that is possible. On this subject alone, discounting blogs, I read policy drivers on several sides [there are more than two]. Brady is the most left wing and it comes closest but still does nothing to forward OGGOG.

I don't know whats in the water down there in la la land, but ship me some huh?

Noooooo............. no one has done anything in the past to restrict our rights...

nothing to worry about here folks.. Your gun rights are safe and sound!

The Presidents done nothing so far to limit gun rights. And he knows full well no more restrictions will pass the House and Senate. The gunhugger paranoia is understandable, but unfounded.

Enlighten me as to what laws have diminished the rights to OWN GUNS. I can buy everything from a Model 642 to a Barrett 50 cal with just a debit card. I can make as many AR-15 clones as I can afford and buy as much ammo as will fit on my pallet [or buy a second pallet].

Congresscritters [the folks who have to make any changes by law] have forwarded only one bill through committee that MIGHT negatively affects gun ownership and in fact there are many that positively affect ownership rights. The one, the Gunshow Loophole Act has not been acted on since 2/28/11 making it dead. Check THOMAS.LOC.GOV for all your legislative information needs.

As for what's in the water here in Central Kentucky...the stuff that makes racehorses fast and bourbon good. But that's beside the point.

Google Fast and Furious....end of story and debate. The OP was speaking to intent, not successful legislation. It's also quite obvious from leaked internal memos that Obama's strategy is go after gun ownership in term 2.

From a Constitutional standpoint, no machine guns, SBR's, silencers etc except to a limited few and then after steep tax stamps clearly is an infringement on our rights. As are the restrictions NY, NJ, CA etc place on ownership. CCW is a joke as well, the 2nd Amendment should be all you need, make the felons pay extra to have restrictions on their DL's stating no CW's if you want the extra tax dollars.

You're right the intent is there, and if anyone on this forum thinks that's not the case they're sadly mistaken. You think this administration cares about Congress, look at all the executive orders that have been passed. The Attorney General who is found in contempt is getting protection from the white house, Arizona was told to take a hike, and Homeland Security has a hot line if someone "seems" to be racially profiled in Arizona. I suggest some forum members read about the progressive movement that's been going on in this country since the early 1900's.The 2nd Amendment is just one part of their strategy. The president taught a college class on the teachings of Saul Alinsky a well known communist and organizer between the 1930's and his death in 1973. Alinsky wrote a book called "Rules For Radicals" after I read it everything about community organizing and opposition to capitolism applies to what's happening today. This book is like a blue print for present day policies. This might seem all far fetched for some, but it's becoming all to obvious to ignore.

Gentlemen,

Please stay on the general focus of this section of the Forum. General political commentary is banned on S&W Forum.

OK, only 2nd amendment issues. For instance I think gun ownership for the general public is in jeopardy in the forseeable future. Is that ok to say.

No, Fast & Furious, nor its predecessor Gunrunner are the end of the story or the debate. In fact, Fast & Furious is not even part of the debate unless you are a Mexican drug runner. While flawed, F&F was intent on solving a border issue, not address firearms ownership in the US.

And those leaked internal memos...do you have a link to a RELIABLE source, not a blog repeating a blog repeating a blog?

I've been a shooter for 52 of my 57 years. I have watched things get easier and easier, not the other way around. And things like full auto or silencers...those are history, not OGGOG. This thread is about future intent, not rumor and schoolgirl gossip.

You say 2nd Amendment is all that is needed...now look at recent history and note that we have been moving toward that, not away. More CC states, SCOTUS has been gun friendly.

It took 100 years to get to the situation we were in just 30 years ago. Then I had to go to the Sheriff's office for "permission" to buy a handgun here in Kentucky. I had to give a DL and sign a book for ammo. CC did not exist. Look how much has changed in just 30 years.

I suppose the boss would let that slide.

It's understood that due to the nature of this section there is going be discussion that sometimes drifts into politics to a degree so we try not to over moderate it. Just leave the out Alinsky/Obama connection and that kinda stuff...

Fast and the Furious/Gunwalker was an obvious attempt to paint the minority % of American Gun owners guns that are found in the possession of Mexican drug cartels as the primary source of the cartels illegal guns. I don't see where anyone other than the anti-gun and/or the far left crowd even debates that.

Let me ask you a question...feel free to answer it or not McBear...call it a hunch...you are/were an NEA etc Union Member ....teacher, city worker or some version there of?

As far as your school girl gossip quip goes....You are seriously trying to say that the left and the White House have no desire to curb gun rights or ownership?

I've seen too many of your posts to think you are obtuse, you are obviously well read, which is why I can't see your posts in these areas as anything other than obfuscation or as an attempt to dissuade people from legitimate gun owner's concerns. Forgive me if I am wrong, I do want to falsely judge your motives.

Everybody get out and vote and vote for pro-gun candidates.

Mcbear, if you're 57 years old, you were about 13 in 1968.
You may have been too young to understand what was happening, but they didn't make gun ownership easier.

Heller was a 5/4 ruling. Don't tell me that nobody wants to take away guns.

I have owned singularly or as a partner a consultancy for systems analysts, architects and systems engineers for the past 30 years. We work with military, government [federal, state and local], and corporate. Our business has included everything from BRAC for the Air Force to design of CNN's digital newsroom for client IBM to hardware rationalization analysis for electrical manufacturer Groupe Schneider/Square D to systems work for advertising agencies.

I was required, on one job to join IBEW so that my team could run wire and install mainframe equipment at a site. That has been my entire "union" experience. It lasted six months and cost me about $500 which was well worth it to get the job done on my terms.

Now, regarding gun ownership and the left and the right. I have friends on the left with whom I shoot weekly. Same with friends on the right. We talk about the issues of 2nd Amendment regularly. I think where you and I might differ is that I don't see the issue as an absolute black and white issue, neither James Madison 1789 nor James Brady 2012. There are areas in which 1789 philosophy is impractical in 2012 and there are areas where 1789 philosophy is more in-line than 2012. A while back I mentioned that it was not the folks on the far left or far right that will decide this issue, it is the very large group in the middle that has not got skin in the game nor have they formed a concrete opinion.

When you look at a bell curve, the majority are always in the middle...To many Americans, from both the Democratic and Republican parties, the gun issue does not represent their view, neither as a 2nd Amendment advocate nor as a gun control advocate. That group in the middle just wants to be safe...and safe to them is neither absolute ownership without qualification nor is it absolute gun control. I fall much closer to the right side than the left but look at 21st Century reality when I make my decisions. It is why I see the Fear, Uncertainty and Dread issues more as a determent than as a positive for gun owners. The reactions that sometimes accompany those FUD issues can very easily be misinterpreted by that very large middle group of folks. Much like the over-reaction of folks on the left can leave a similar view from that middle.

I hope that clears up any obfuscation you may have seen. It was not intentional, but I do tend to come at things from a whiteboard perspective rather than one answer, no matter the facts. Old habits... :-)

That of which you speak is Local or at very best, on your State level. This conversation centers around the National arena...

I grew up in Kentucky...everyone had guns. At 13 I could go to the local sporting goods department of the local department store and buy ammo [22] without permission. At 15 I carried a pistol when our scout troop hikes with snakeshot.

So I know it from MY perspective. But you make my point...ownership is getting easier and easier, not harder.

As for Heller...the dissent was limited and in no way showed what a full, differently balanced court might decide [there was even a dissent to the dissent]. Changing the Constitution on the 2nd would be a monstrous task that no politician would want to take on. It has only been done once and that was because the Depression made a new form of tax revenue necessary and liquor was easy pickings.

Well, they were repealed because they were unconstitutional from a federal perspective.

Well, I'm going to tell you that there is more out there than just the gun issue. I too try to look at all points and who will be the best person for the job. I've voted republican, I've voted democrat. And have been voting a lot longer than some of you have been around. I spent 30 years as a Union Boilermaker and am damn proud of it.

Be careful in your self righteousness, in the end, all it does is marginalize you.

__________________
James L. "Jim" Rhiner

Fair enough, I hope you have a good night. I'm sure we may differ in opinion on these types of issues in the future, but I appreciate a well thought out, intentional point of view.

Still, that does not signal any improvement on the Federal level.